Europe breathes sigh of relief after Macron victory in France

Macron's 577 candidates in the elections are expected to be announced Thursday.

Mr Macron's campaign members Christophe Castaner and Benjamin Griveaux said Mr Valls is welcome but would have to go through the regular application process.

Leave.EU, backed by Nigel Farage and Ukip-donor, Aaron Banks, was particularly upset at the result.

Mr Macron's victory marks the third time in six months - following elections in Austria and Holland - that European voters shot down far-right populists who wanted to restore borders across Europe.

Ms. Merkel's spokesperson, Steffen Seibert, said the Chancellor is looking forward to working with the new president in the spirit of the traditionally close Franco-German friendship. He was an unknown, and came from a finance background - he had no chance in France.

He will now have to act quickly in establishing his own party and presenting candidates in the legislative elections, as he has promised to do.

Before he announced his candidacy for president his team, inspired by the Obama campaign in the U.S. in 2008, carried out a survey of thousands of French citizens to hear what policies they wanted from their politicians. Now he has to deliver on his words.

The mother of three portrays herself as the guardian of a disabused France, where citizens are losing their culture to an encroaching Islam, their identity to "massive immigration" and their sovereignty to the European Union.

The news is a relief to markets as Macron's Pro-EU stance is more favourable to Euro investors than Le Pen's anti-EU attitude. Hollande himself decided not to run again.

"In these conditions it is especially important to overcome mutual mistrust and unite efforts to ensure global stability and security", Putin told Macron. "That is a tough chore for Macron".

French polling agencies revealed the centrist candidate triumphed over the far-right's Marine Le Pen, who is forecast to have gained a 35% share. This outcome mirrors the result of the first round of the Presidential elections, where those calling for links to be severed with Europe and opposing free trade snatched almost half of the vote.

Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next President of France.

He acknowledged divisions in society which drove people to "vote to the extreme", and said he will work for all of France.

Like his predecessors, Macron will be judged above all on employment, and he has vowed to force through reform of France's hidebound labour laws using executive orders during his first months in office.

The euro pulled back in early trade on Monday, as the initial relief rally over centrist reformer Emmanuel Macron winning the French presidential election started to fizzle.

Among the European and world leader who were quick to congratulate Mr Macron was US President Donald Trump, who said he looked forward to working with his new French counterpart. Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni tweeted.

Beyond a long to-do list on domestic issues, Macron will have to deal with fractures in the wider region, including Russia's increasing hostility toward Europe.